Senators want FTC to probe refiners for price fixing

A group of senators on Tuesday will ask the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether oil refiners are cutting back their gasoline production in order to keep pump prices high.

The senators, including Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, plan to send a letter to the FTC chairman seeking the probe, citing recent Energy Department data showing that U.S. refiners are operating only at about 82 percent capacity, according to a congressional aide.